Flash floods hit Gokwe District

Zim Now Writer

Some areas in Gokwe North in the Midlands Province have been hit by flash floods as a result of the heavy rains that have been pounding the bulk of the country recently.

The worst hit are communities that live along the banks of the banks of Ume River while there are also reports that major rivers in the area have broken their banks and most roads around the district have been rendered impassable.

Several parts of the country have been receiving heavy downpours, which the Meteorological Services Department says are expected to continue until the end of this week.

On Thursday last week, furniture as well as learning and building material worth thousands of dollars were destroyed at Mutimuri Primary School 9 under Chief Chireya, were destroyed.

About 80 bags of cement, 77 iron roofing sheets and 20x20-litre buckets of water were swept away by the floods, according to authorities at the school.

“About three quarters of the textbooks donated by Unicef have been destroyed as well as other textbooks that were immersed in water,” the school said in a statement.

“Some food, clothes, mattresses, blankets, mobile phone gadgets and other items belonging to the teachers were also submerged in water, while others were swept away.”

The floods also affected the school’s bathrooms, toilets and teachers’ cottages.

Army helicopters had to airlift some teachers who had been marooned at the school after heavy rains hit the district four years ago.

One villager in the area said the only solution is to relocate the school from that area and build it away from the banks of the river.

“The river shifted its course and is now flowing through the school,” he said.

The school head Simbarashe Chisvuure referred questions to the district schools inspector Douglas Samunyaka, who only confirmed the incident, but could not give further details.

Midlands Provincial Education Director Jameson Machimbira said he was yet to get information on the value of damage.

“The amount of precipitation is quite significant in both Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts, but I am yet to get a report on the amount of damage that the rains have caused, especially at this school that you are talking about in Gokwe North,” Machimbira said.